10-year-old Moscow dancer Shakira's World Cup partner

For the first time in the history of the FIFA World Cup, the halftime break lasted not 15 but a full 27 minutes — all for a grand show featuring Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, and Shakira.

For Russia, the star of the evening was 10-year-old Yesenia Mikheeva, who danced with the Colombian singer at MetLife Stadium. MSK1.RU has compiled everything known about the young dancer and her path to fame.

Dancing from birth

Yesenia was born in Moscow to a family of choreographers — Alexander and Marina Mikheeva. They are professional dancers, and as soon as their daughter could stand, they began teaching her movements to music. They worked on technique and practiced a lot.

Before school, the family moved to the United States, and almost immediately Yesenia ended up on the show America«s Got Talent. There she became the youngest semifinalist in the project»s history. The girl was invited to the dance team of the NBA club Atlanta Hawks. She made videos, danced, and her parents supported her in everything. The same happened with singer Shakira«s contest.

Yesenia, like millions of fans around the world, recorded a dance to the official anthem of the championship — the song Dai Dai. She danced in a Brazil national team jersey, posted the video on social media, and Shakira — noticed. The singer didn«t just like it, but reposted the video, contacted the girl, and suggested first shooting a joint music video, and then performing at the World Cup final together with other children.

What is known about the parents?

Yesenia«s parents Alexander and Marina are originally from Cherkassk (Russia) and Brians (Russia). In Moscow, they performed together, for example, in the show ballet troupe »Exclusive«.

Alexander founded the Mikheev Pride school. He rented space in the Pushkino House of Culture (Pushkino, Russia) and invited children from age 6 to take dance classes. The main focus was modern choreography. Marina and Alexander taught together.

In 2021, they managed to get on the children«s talent show »Better Than Everyone!« on Channel One together with their daughter.

In 2022, the family moved to the United States. In Atlanta, Alexander Mikheev announced enrollment in a new dance school under the same brand Mikheev Pride. Back in Russia in 2019, and then in the United States in 2024, he invited local bloggers to collaborate. He offered to set up technique for dancing on TikTok, Reels*, and Shots.

After Yesenia«s participation in 2023 in the show America»s Got Talent on American TV, the Mikheevs« career took off. They began posting more videos with their daughter. Now almost every video of Marina and Alexander on their personal channels is published together with 10-year-old Yesenia.

The Mikheevs became stars of American shows. They periodically post photos with bloggers. Reels* are becoming more and more popular. And the video dancing to Shakira only strengthened their position. Now their content reliably garners not thousands but millions of views.

Star moment at the World Cup

Yesenia«s star moment came when she stepped onto the field together with Shakira and the African dance group Ghetto Kids to the anthem Dai Dai. At the end of the performance, Shakira hugged the girl.

Russian-speaking viewers on social media did not hide their delight: «Our little one!», «I watched the final only for her!», «While the whole world followed the match, we followed Yesenia Mikheeva.» The girl herself also managed to take a photo with, perhaps, one of her main idols — Justin Bieber.

The Russian national team did not qualify for the championship, but our little compatriot stepped onto the main stage of world football and became one of the discoveries of the tournament. So far, the Mikheevs themselves have not commented on their suddenly increased popularity in Russia.

* Meta Platforms Inc. (owner of Facebook and Instagram) is recognized as an extremist organization and banned on the territory of Russia.

Earlier, MSK1.RU published a live broadcast of the most striking moments of the World Cup final. We also reported on how the second day of VK Fest went, where the main Russian stars gathered on one stage.